U.S. HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING ON GUANTANAMO DETAINEES AFTER BOUMEDIENE: NOW WHAT?

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will hold a hearing entitled “Guantanamo Detainees after Boumediene: Now What?,” on Tuesday, July 15 at 2:30 p.m. in room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing will review the detainee-related policy issues – particularly for Guantanamo detainees -- that remain in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Boumediene. Witnesses will also have the opportunity to discuss a related question: what does Europe do with its terror suspects, and are there any lessons for the United States from the European experience?

The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision on Boumediene v. Bush that foreign terrorism suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility have the right under the Constitution to challenge their detention in a U.S. civilian court.

WITNESSES

Mr. Matthew Waxman, Associate Professor of Law, Columbia Law School

Mr. Gabor Rona, International Legal Director, Human Rights First

Mr. Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director of the Center on the United States and Europe, Brookings Institution

**Additional witnesses may be added

WHO: U.S. Helsinki Commission

WHAT: Hearing on Guantanamo Detainees After Boumediene: Now What?

WHEN: Tuesday, July 15 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.